I Tested the Top Meatloaf Recipes, and This One Surpassed All Expectations

I will keep returning to this one repeatedly.

The autumn leaves now visible throughout the scenery have me longing for something different. comfort food In a grand manner. Hand over the casseroles, pass me the soups, let's prepare a meatloaf. Serve it piping hot right from the oven. mashed potatoes , letting it chill under the tap late at night, or cooking it up on a griddle and turning it into a sandwich the following day, meatloaf holds a special place as comfort food for me. To discover the ultimate recipe, I tested the top five versions from Pawnation.com, which left our family with quite the appetite, and uncovered the finest version among them.

What Makes a Great Meatloaf?

The ideal meatloaf is moist, but never mushy on the inside. The outer shell should be crisp but yielding to the fork. The loaf should maintain its shape when rested and turned out and should slice easily for serving. The seasoning should accentuate, but not overpower, the meaty main character. As far as meat goes, many recipes call for pork, veal, beef, or all three combined. For the purpose of this test and to narrow the playing field, I tested beef-only recipes.

‘Meat’ The Contestants

Rempel Family Meatloaf submitted by Connie Levesque
Cheeseburger Meatloaf by Douglas Tuccinardi
Brown Sugar Meatloaf by tangastar
Air Fryer Meatloaf by aigerekairfryer
Easy Meatloaf by Janet Shum

The Criteria:

I utilized three primary classifications to evaluate the participants:

Texture: Meatloaf should never be soggy. However, an even greater concern is ensuring it isn’t dried out. The ideal consistency comes from soaking breadcrumbs or crackers in milk for moisture, using eggs for structure, and adding seasonings for both crispness and taste. The method used significantly influences the final texture. After mixing all components, gently forming the mixture into a loaf shape is essential. Excessive handling can make the meat tough, whereas insufficient care might lead to a loose mess.
Flavor The finest meatloaves derive their taste from aromatic elements, veggies, and well-balanced seasonings such as shredded onions, carrots, celery, and herbs. Commencing with salt and pepper is ideal; however, should you lack access to fresh components, garlic and onion powders can be used instead. Ingredients like mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, and even fish sauce enhance the savory aspects of the dish.
Crust: Preferably, the exterior parts of your meatloaf ought to be uniformly caramelized and slightly crisp. Traditional meat loaves are often cooked or brushed with a ketchup coating on top; when doing so, the primary objective is to prevent sogginess. To accomplish this effectively, you can cook the loaf first and then apply the glaze midway through baking or immediately after removing it from the oven.

The Results

Best for Meatloaf-Related Emergencies

The recipe: Rempel Family Meatloaf , from Connie Levesque
Average Rating : 4.6
Rave Review "I've been making this for ages. I've experimented with alternatives, but I always return to this recipe." - Vicki

This particular recipe proved to be the simplest to follow among them all, as it didn’t necessitate any vegetable chopping or grating. It called for beef, crackers, cheddar cheese, and more. onion soup mix The ingredients are mixed together while the eggs are beaten separately and then blended with ketchup and steak sauce. These two combinations are subsequently merged and formed into an attractive meatloaf that cooks beautifully within sixty minutes. It boasts a delightful crispy exterior and a soft inside that cuts effortlessly. Using the onion soup mixture instead of raw onions lends a silky texture to the crumb. My relatives absolutely loved this dish.

Most Creative

The recipe : Cheeseburger Meatloaf , from Douglas Tuccinardi
Average rating : 4.4
Rave review “It was incredibly tasty. The entire family enjoyed it immensely. I included some crushed bacon since we’re big fans of bacon cheeseburgers. This recipe’s going into our family cookbook.” - David0029

Without a doubt, this was the most entertaining meatloaf to prepare—plus, it yielded an impressively large portion size. The recipe requires a substantial quantity of two pounds of ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs, onions, eggs, salt, and pepper. After combining these ingredients, you shape them into a big rectangular form, sprinkle three cups of grated cheddar cheese over it, and roll it up like a jellyroll before placing it in a 10x13-inch baking pan to bake for one hour. The exterior had a delightful crunch, and having melted cheese within offered quite a pleasant twist compared to traditional versions.

Best For Sandwiching

The recipe : Brown Sugar Meatloaf , from tangastar
Average rating : 4.5
Rave review “I’ve experimented with many methods for making meatloaf, but this particular recipe has become my absolute favorite!” – Dinie

This dish lives up to its title by requiring half a cup of packed brown sugar mixed with ketchup and spread at the base of a well-greased loaf pan. Ground beef is blended with eggs, onions, milk, crackers, and grated ginger. Once baked and allowed to rest, this meatloaf unveils an impressive upper layer when sliced open. While tasty on its own, my first bite made me envision serving it between slices of toasted white bread accompanied by additional pickles. The delightful contrast of sweet brown sugar from the crust paired with tangy pickles would surely induce culinary bliss.

Best Texture

The recipe : Air Fryer Meatloaf , by aigerekairfryer
Average rating :4.6
Rave review "The air fryer easily produces this incredible dish, achieving perfect crispiness around the edges, which makes it really outstanding." - Russell

Not long ago, convincing me to purchase an air fryer was out of the question. Why add another bulky appliance to clutter up my packed kitchen? Absolutely not interested. Yet, the numerous instances where an air fryer dish has astonished and delighted me cannot be quantified. Would you believe it’s possible to cook meatloaf using an air fryer? This particular recipe nails every aspect—starting with milk-soaked bread crumbs, eggs, onions—the creator even included freshly chopped thyme, adding layers of freshness and earthiness that truly stood out. A coat of glaze applied towards the end ensures a wonderfully crispy exterior. And all this happens within just twenty minutes—now I’m compelled to get myself an air fryer.

Best Classic Meatloaf

The recipe : Easy Meatloaf , by Janet Shum
Average rating : 4.7
Rave review “This was an easy and tasty meatloaf. My entire family had big smiles. Even though I generally don’t enjoy meatloaf, I must say I really liked this version and thoroughly savored every bite. The topping truly elevates the whole dish! Fantastic” - Pawonation.com member

Janet’s dish relies on traditional ingredients: beef, eggs, onions, breadcrumbs, milk, and salt and pepper. Following the preparation and molding of these components, they are adorned with a glaze made from ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar prior to being baked. This process yields a glossy, vivid reddish crust. Her creation embodies an American classic feel; the taste leans towards simplicity and homeliness, offering a consistency that remains tender without becoming overly wet. Additionally, the coating perfectly complements the rest. This is undoubtedly the meatloaf recipe I’ll keep serving my loved ones repeatedly.

Read the initial article on All Recipes .